As Makset completes his 36th day in captivity, he still has yet to see a representative from the UN. This appears to be outside the norm for people who have been designated refugees for those countries that claim to support people’s freedom of conscience. This seem rather baffling.

But, confusion and lack of understanding are often the plight of humans–were that not so, we would be living in a radically different world. Some have expressed a bit of bewilderment over one aspect of Makset’s story. If he was provided the ability to obtain asylum in the US in 2009, why didn’t he take advantage of that?

It’s a valid question, and we believe there is a valid answer.

First, at the time Makset, still under UNHCR protection, felt he had options to obtain citizenship closer to home. Put yourself in his position. If most of your relatives still live in Central Asia, then simply uprooting your family to go to a place you’ve never been before, and make a fresh start is a bit daunting. It’s possible for us to downplay what kind of an adjustment this would require. Immigrants all through the ages have had to leave their roots, learn a new language, and raise their children in a completely new environment and culture. No easy task.

Second, and more importantly, however, is that Makset wanted to be able to minister to people within Central Asia. Remember, he is, for all practical purposes, a prisoner of conscience. He is a man of faith. At the time he was given the proverbial “golden ticket” of immigration to the “land of opportunity” he made the statement, “If I stay here I can share the gospel, if I go to America, what will I do? I don’t want to be a postman.” Makset was not disparaging the fine profession of mail carriers, instead, he was expressing his heart’s desire to share his deepest beliefs and realizing that leaving Central Asia at that time while there were still options open for him to stay in the region would deprive him of doing what he most wanted to do– lovingly share his beliefs with others.